Jó 7

¹ Is there not a limited time of service to a mortal upon the earth? Are not his days also like the days of a hired laborer?

² As a servant eagerly longeth for the shadow, and as a hired laborer hopeth for his reward:

³ So was I compelled to possess months of vanity, and nights of trouble were counted out unto me.

⁴ When I He down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am wearied with tossings about till the dawn of day.

⁵ My flesh is covered with worms and clods of dust: my skin is burst open, and become loathsome.

⁶ My days hasten away more swiftly than a weaver’s shuttle, and they come to an end in the absence of hope.

⁷ Oh remember that nothing but a breath is my life; that my eye will not again see happiness;

⁸ The eye of him that seeth me now will not behold me again: thou fixest thy eyes upon me, and I am no more.

⁹ As the cloud vanisheth and passeth away: so will he that goeth down to the nether world not come up again.

¹⁰ He will return no more to his house, and his place will not recognize him any more.

¹¹ Therefore will I also not restrain my mouth: I will speak in the anguish of my spirit: I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

¹² Am I a sea, or a monster, that thou settest a watch over me?

¹³ For should I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall help me bear my complaint:

¹⁴ Then wouldst thou frighten me with dreams, and with visions wouldst thou terrify me;

¹⁵ So that my soul would choose strangling, death rather than these limbs of mine.

¹⁶ I loathe it; I cannot live for ever: let me alone; for my days are but nought.

¹⁷ What is the mortal, that thou shouldst make him great? and that thou shouldst direct thy heart toward him?

¹⁸ And that thou shouldst visit him every morning, probe him every moment?

¹⁹ How long wilt thou not turn thy regard from me, nor let; me loose till I swallow down my spittle?

²⁰ If I have sinned, what injury can I cause unto thee, O thou Guardian of men? why hast thou set me as an object for thee to strike at, so that I am become a burden to myself?

²¹ And why wilt thou not forgive my transgression, and let my iniquity pass away? for soon must I lie down in the dust; and thou wilt seek for me, but I shall be no more.